Treaty between the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics and the United Arab Republic
in the building of the Aswan High Dam. The Soviets also provided aid
and material to Egypt before and during the 1967 Arab-Israeli War.
The large amounts of aid for the Egyptian government eventually
translated into the signing of this alliance, which called for consulta-
tion on issues of security and guaranteed Soviet aid to the Egyptian
military. The Soviet leadership believed the treaty would provide them
with greater control over Egyptian foreign policy, but Egypt expelled
most high-ranking Russian diplomats after just a year, fearing Russia’s
designs to determine the nature of Egypt’s international role.
Egypt lost much of its air force and armor following the 1973–1975
(Yom Kippur) war with Israel and called on the Soviets to resupply its
military, but the Soviet refusal to provide spare parts and services to
the Egyptian MiG-21 fleet caused a rupture in relations. Seeking
repayment for prior aid, the Soviets first halted the supply of spare
engines and later stopped shipping all military parts. As the majority
of Egypt’s inventory was supplied by the Soviets, cooled relations
severely strained the Egyptian military.
On March 14, 1976, Egyptian president Anwar Sadat asked the Egypt-
ian People’s Assembly to abrogate the Soviet treaty, claiming that the
Soviets were trying to make Egypt “kneel before her.” The following
day, by a 307–2 vote, the assembly accepted Sadat’s proposal.
Sadat then began to cooperate with the United States and, in 1978,
signed the Camp David accords establishing a separate peace with
Israel. Moscow responded by increasing its support for Libya and
Syria, both rivals of Sadat’s Egypt. Sadat expelled Soviet diplomats and
technicians only weeks before his assassination in 1981.
Alliance Text
The Union of Soviet Socialist Republics and the United Arab
Republic,
Being firmly convinced that the further development of the
friendship and all-round co-operation between the Union of
Soviet Socialist Republics and the United Arab Republic is in
accordance with the interests of the peoples of the two States
and serves the cause of strengthening universal peace,
Inspired by the ideals of the struggle against imperialism and
colonialism and for the freedom, independence and social
progress of peoples,
Determined to struggle steadfastly for the consolidation of
international peace and security, in accordance with the unfail-
ing course of their peace-loving foreign policy,
Reaffirming their loyalty to the purposes and principles of
the Charter of the United Nations,
Desiring to confirm and strengthen the traditional relations
of genuine friendship between the two States and their peoples
by means of the conclusion of a Treaty of Friendship and Co-
operation, thereby creating a basis for their further development,
Have agreed as follows:
Article 1. The High Contracting Parties solemnly declare
that indestructible friendship will always exist between the two
countries and their peoples. They shall continue to develop and
strengthen the relations of friendship and all-round co-opera-
tion existing between them in the political, economic, scientific,
technical, cultural and other fields on the basis of the principles
of respect for sovereignty, territorial integrity, non-intervention
in each other’s internal affairs, equal rights and mutual benefit.
Article 2. The Union of Soviet Socialist Republics as a social-
ist State and the United Arab Republic, which has chosen as its
goal the socialist transformation ofsociety, shall co-operate
closely and in every way possible to ensure conditions
favourable to the maintenance and further development of the
social and economic achievements of their peoples.
Article 3. Desiring to contribute in every way possible to the
maintenance of international peace and security of peoples, the
Union of Soviet Socialist Republics and the United Arab Repub-
lic shall continue with all possible determination to make
efforts to establish and ensure a lasting and just peace in the
Middle East in accordance with the purposes and principles of
the Charter of the United Nations.
In pursuance of their peace-loving foreign policy, the High
Contracting Parties shall strive for peace, the reduction of inter-
national tension, general and complete disarmament and the
prohibition of nuclear and other weapons of mass destruction.
Article 4. Guided by the ideals of the freedom and equality of
all peoples, the High Contracting Parties condemn imperialism
and colonialism in all their forms and manifestations. They
shall continue to oppose imperialism and support the complete
and final elimination of colonialism pursuant to the United
Nations Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colo-
nial Countries and Peoples, and to wage a steadfast struggle
against racism and apartheid.
Article 5. The High Contracting Parties shall continue to
expand and intensify all-round co-operation and exchange of
experience in the economic and scientific and technical fields,
in industry, agriculture, water management, irrigation,
exploitation of natural resources, the development of power
systems and the training of national specialists as well as in
other areas of the economy.
The Parties shall expand trade and shipping between the two
States on the basis of the principles of mutual advantage and
most-favoured-nation treatment.
Article 6. The High Contracting Parties shall promote the
further development of co-operation between themselves in
science, art, literature, education, health, the press, radio, televi-
sion, cinematography, tourism and physical culture as well as in
other fields.
The Parties shall promote the expansion of co-operation and
direct contacts between workers’ political and social organiza-
tions, enterprises and cultural and scientific institutions so that
the peoples of the two countries may become better acquainted
with each other’s life, work and achievements.
Article 7. Being deeply interested in ensuring the peace and
security of peoples and attaching great importance to co-ordi-
nating their activities on the international scene in the struggle
for peace, the High Contracting Parties shall for that purpose
regularly consult together at various levels regarding all impor-
tant questions affecting the interests of the two States.
In the event of a situation arising which, in the opinion of
the two Parties, constitutes a threat to the peace or a breach of
the peace, the Parties shall immediately contact each other for